Foldless fly

ABSTRACT

An article of clothing is provided and includes a body having a first panel and a second panel cooperating to define a pair of leg openings that receive respective legs of a person during use, whereby at least one of the first panel and the second panel is formed from a first material having a first modulus of elasticity. A waistband is coupled to the first panel and the second panel and includes a waist opening that is positioned at a waist of a person during use. The waistband includes a first portion partially surrounding a first length of the waist opening and formed of a second material having a second modulus of elasticity and a second portion partially surrounding a second length of the waist opening and formed of a third material having a third modulus of elasticity greater than the second modulus of elasticity.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a national phase application of InternationalApplication Serial No. PCT/US2017/021755, filed Mar. 10, 2017, whichclaims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/307,253,filed Mar. 11, 2016 the disclosure of which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an article of clothing and moreparticularly to athletic shorts, such as board shorts, having a flyregion formed without a fold of material.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the presentdisclosure and is not necessarily prior art.

It is common for an article of clothing, such as pants, shorts, orswimming apparel, to include a fly closure. The fly closure can make iteasier for a person to put on and take off the article of clothing byallowing a wait of the article of clothing to selective expand. The flyclosure can also ensure a comfortable and secure fit when the person iswearing the article of clothing, while also providing an aestheticallyacceptable appearance.

While conventional fly closures adequately permit a person to easily puton and take off a pair of shorts and, further, maintain the shorts in adesired position during use, requiring a flap of material at a flyregion of the shorts increases the cost and complexity associated withmanufacturing the shorts. Further, such material increases the overallweight of the shorts and, further, provides an additional materialsource that can absorb water during use, thereby further adding to theoverall weight of the shorts during use.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only ofselected configurations and are not intended to limit the scope of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an article of clothing having aso-called “foldless” fly in accordance with the principles of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a close-up perspective view of the foldless fly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a close-up perspective view of the foldless fly of FIG. 1 frominside the article of clothing; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a portion of the article of clothing ofFIG. 1.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example configurations will now be described more fully with referenceto the accompanying drawings. Example configurations are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scopeof the disclosure to those of ordinary skill in the art. Specificdetails are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices,and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of configurations ofthe present disclosure. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art that specific details need not be employed, that exampleconfigurations may be embodied in many different forms, and that thespecific details and the example configurations should not be construedto limit the scope of the disclosure.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularexemplary configurations only and is not intended to be limiting. Asused herein, the singular articles “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intendedto include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,”and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence offeatures, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The methodsteps, processes, and operations described herein are not to beconstrued as necessarily requiring their performance in the particularorder discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as anorder of performance. Additional or alternative steps may be employed.

When an element is described as including a “material,” the materialcould be a textile having uniform properties or, alternatively, atextile having specified properties when oriented in a specificdirection. Further, the material may exhibit different properties atdifferent zones of the material where the material is provided with anadditional layer or layers of the same and/or different material.Likewise, the material may exhibit different properties at differentzones of the material where the material includes a different knit orweave that provides each zone with a specified modulus of elasticity.The orientation of the different layers of material may likewisecontribute to the overall elasticity of the layered construction byaligning or offsetting a testing orientation of the various layers(i.e., a testing orientation as used in, for example, ASTM D4964 and/orASTM D6614). Use of multiple layers of the same and/or differentmaterial may be used to provide the layered construction with aneffective modulus of elasticity that is different than the moduli ofelasticity of the individual materials that make up the layeredconstruction. Further, providing a material having a zonal constructionmay likewise provide a material having an effective modulus ofelasticity as a whole that is different than individual zones of thematerial where the individual zones include a different weave, adifferent knit, and/or an additional layer of material.

As used herein, a “panel” may refer to a segment made from a materialthat provides the panel with a desired effective modulus of elasticity.Accordingly, a panel may be a zone of an integrally formed section ofthe article of clothing described herein generally corresponding to aspecified location and geometry shown in the drawings, and referred toas a panel. Referring to a “panel” therefore does not necessarily meanthat the identified portion of the article of clothing is a separatelyformed then assembled portion of the article. Rather, the panel could bea portion of an integrally formed panel that has a specified effectivemodulus of elasticity by providing the panel with a material having adesired effective modulus of elasticity.

When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,”“connected to,” “attached to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer,it may be directly on, engaged, connected, attached, or coupled to theother element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may bepresent. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directlyon,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” “directly attachedto,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be nointervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe therelationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion(e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directlyadjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and allcombinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

The terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describevarious elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections. Theseelements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not belimited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish oneelement, component, region, layer or section from another region, layeror section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical termsdo not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by thecontext. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or sectiondiscussed below could be termed a second element, component, region,layer or section without departing from the teachings of the exampleconfigurations.

An article of clothing is provided and includes a body having a firstpanel and a second panel cooperating to define a pair of leg openingsthat receive respective legs of a person during use, whereby at leastone of the first panel and the second panel is formed from a firstmaterial having a first modulus of elasticity. A waistband is coupled tothe first panel and the second panel and includes a waist opening thatis positioned at a waist of a person during use. The waistband includesa first portion partially surrounding a first length of the waistopening and formed of a second material having a second modulus ofelasticity and a second portion partially surrounding a second length ofthe waist opening and formed of a third material having a third modulusof elasticity greater than the second modulus of elasticity.

In one configuration, the first portion and the second portion cooperateto define the waist opening.

The first portion may include a first distal end and a second distal endand the second portion may include a third distal end and a fourthdistal end, whereby the first distal end is attached to the third distalend and the second distal end is attached to the fourth distal end todefine the waist opening. The third distal end and the fourth distal endmay be formed at a first angle relative to a longitudinal axis of thesecond portion. Further, the first distal end and the second distal endmay be formed at a second angle relative to a longitudinal axis of thefirst portion, whereby the second angle is supplementary to the firstangle. The first distal end and the second distal end may flare out in adirection from the first panel and the second panel toward the waistopening. The third distal end and the fourth distal end may taper downin a direction from the waist opening toward the first panel and thesecond panel.

A fly panel may be coupled to the first panel and may be formed at leastin part of a fourth material having a fourth modulus of elasticitydifferent than the first modulus of elasticity. The fourth modulus ofelasticity may be greater than the first modulus of elasticity. Thefirst panel may include a first panel portion and a second panelportion, whereby the fly panel extends between and connects the firstpanel portion and the second panel portion. In one configuration, thefirst panel includes a first panel portion and a second panel portionwith the fly panel extending between and connecting the first panelportion and the second panel portion.

A securement mechanism may extend at least partially over the secondportion of the waistband and may selectively constrict the waistband.

In another configuration, an article of clothing is provided andincludes a body having a first panel and a second panel cooperating todefine a pair of leg openings that receive respective legs of a personduring use, whereby at least one of the first panel and the second panelis formed from a first material having a first modulus of elasticity. Awaistband is coupled to the first panel and the second panel andincludes a waist opening that is positioned at a waist of a personduring use. The waistband includes a first portion partially surroundinga first length of the waist opening and a second portion partiallysurrounding a second length of the waist opening. The first portionincludes a first distal end and a second distal end and the secondportion includes a third distal end and a fourth distal end that arerespectively attached to the first distal end and the second distal endand taper down in a direction from the waist opening toward the firstpanel and the second panel.

The first distal end and the second distal end may flare out in adirection away from the first panel and the second panel toward thewaist opening.

In one configuration, the first distal end may be formed at asupplementary angle relative to the third distal end and the seconddistal end may be formed at a supplementary angle relative to the fourthdistal end.

The first portion may be formed of a second material having a secondmodulus of elasticity and the second portion may be formed of a thirdmaterial having a third modulus of elasticity, the third modulus ofelasticity being greater than the second modulus of elasticity.

In one configuration, the first portion and the second portion cooperateto define the waist opening.

The third distal end and the fourth distal end may be formed at a firstangle relative to a longitudinal axis of the second portion. The firstdistal end and the second distal end may be formed at a second anglerelative to a longitudinal axis of the first portion, with the secondangle being supplementary to the first angle.

A fly panel may be coupled to the first panel and may be formed at leastin part of a fourth material having a fourth modulus of elasticitydifferent than the first modulus of elasticity. The fourth modulus ofelasticity may be greater than the first modulus of elasticity. Thefirst panel may include a first panel portion and a second panelportion, whereby the fly panel extends between and connects the firstpanel portion and the second panel portion. The first panel may includea first panel portion and a second panel portion with the fly panelextending between and connecting the first panel portion and the secondpanel portion.

A securement mechanism may extend at least partially over the secondportion of the waistband and may selectively constrict the waistband.

A method of manufacturing an article of clothing is provided andincludes providing a body including a first panel and a second panelthat cooperate to define a pair of leg openings that are operable toreceive respective legs of a person during use and also includes formingat least one of the first panel and the second panel from a firstmaterial having a first modulus of elasticity. The method additionallyincludes coupling a waistband to the first panel and the second panelincluding providing the waistband with a waist opening that ispositioned at a waist of a person during use. The waistband is formed toinclude a first portion partially surrounding a first length of thewaist opening and a second portion partially surrounding a second lengthof the waist opening. The method further includes forming the firstportion of a second material having a second modulus of elasticity andforming the second portion of a third material having a third modulus ofelasticity greater than the second modulus of elasticity.

Forming the waistband may include defining the waist opening by thefirst portion and the second portion.

In one configuration, forming the waistband may include providing thefirst portion with a first distal end and a second distal end and thesecond portion with a third distal end and a fourth distal end, wherebythe first distal end is attached to the third distal end and the seconddistal end is attached to the fourth distal end to define the waistopening.

The method may additionally include forming the third distal end and thefourth distal end at a first angle relative to a longitudinal axis ofthe second portion and forming the first distal end and the seconddistal end at a second angle relative to a longitudinal axis of thefirst portion, whereby the second angle is supplementary to the firstangle.

The first distal end and the second distal end may be flared out in adirection from the first panel and the second panel toward the waistopening. The third distal end and the second distal end may be tapereddown in a direction from the waist opening toward the first panel andthe second panel.

A fly panel may be coupled to the first panel, whereby the fly panel isformed at least in part of a fourth material having a fourth modulus ofelasticity different than the first modulus of elasticity. The fourthmodulus of elasticity may be provided with a greater elasticity than thefirst modulus of elasticity. The first panel may be provided with afirst panel portion and a second panel portion, whereby the fly panelextends between and connects the first panel portion and the secondpanel portion.

A securement mechanism may extend at least partially over the secondportion of the waistband and may selectively constrict the waistband.

With reference to FIG. 1, an article of clothing 10 is provided. Whilethe article of clothing 10 is illustrated and described herein as beinga pair of board shorts, the article of clothing 10 may include otherforms, such as pants or shorts, within the scope of the presentdisclosure. In this regard, the article of clothing 10 may include anyform of clothing that is adapted to be worn around a user's waist.

The article of clothing 10 includes a body 12 and a waistband 14. Thebody 12 may include a right front panel 18, a left front panel 20, and acentral or fly panel 22, whereby the right front panel 18 and the leftfront panel 20 cooperate to define a front panel 17 of the body 12 thatopposes a rear panel 19 of the body 12.

With reference to FIG. 4, the right front panel 18 may include a leftmedial edge 24 and the left front panel 20 may include a right medialedge 26. In some implementations, the right medial edge 26 may include afirst or upper portion 28, a second or intermediate portion 30 extendingfrom the upper portion 28, and a lower portion 32 extending from theintermediate portion 30. In particular, the upper portion 28 may extendin a first direction, the intermediate portion 30 may extend in a seconddirection transverse to the first direction, and the lower portion 32may extend in a third direction transverse to the first and/or seconddirections. In this regard, the upper portion 28 and the intermediateportion 30 define an angle α1 therebetween, and the intermediate portion32 and the lower portion 32 may define an angle α2 therebetween. Theangle α1 may be between ninety degrees (90°) and one hundredseventy-five degrees (175°). In some configurations, the angle α1 may beequal to one hundred thirty-five degrees (135°). The angle α2 may bebetween ninety degrees (90°) and one hundred seventy-five degrees(175°). In some configurations, the angle α2 may be equal to one hundredthirty-five degrees (135°). Accordingly, the upper portion 28 may besubstantially parallel to the lower portion 32. In some implementations,the upper portion 28 may be offset from the lower portion 32 in adirection extending substantially perpendicular to the first and/orthird directions. In particular, the upper portion 28 may be offset fromthe lower portion 32 by a distance substantially equal to a width (W) ofthe fly panel 22.

The right front panel 18 may include a first type of material. The leftfront panel 20 may include a second type of material. In someimplementations, the first type of material may be the same as thesecond type of material, such that the right and left front panels 18,20 are formed from the same type of material. In this regard, the rightand/or left front panels 18, 20 may be formed from a material having afirst modulus of elasticity. Alternatively, the panels 18, 20 may beformed from different materials such that the left front panel is formedfrom a second material having a second modulus of elasticity that isdifferent than the first modulus of elasticity of the right front panel18.

The fly panel 22 may include a right lateral edge 34 and a left lateraledge 36, such that the width (W) of the fly panel 22 extends from theright lateral edge 34 to the left lateral edge 36. In someimplementations, the left lateral edge 36 may include a first or upperportion 38 and a second or lower portion 40 extending from the upperportion 38. In particular, the upper portion 38 may extend in a firstdirection and the lower portion 40 may extend in a second directiontransverse to the first direction such that the upper portion 38 and thelower portion 40 define an angle θ therebetween. The angle θ may bebetween ninety degrees (90°) and one hundred seventy-five degrees(175°). In some configurations, the angle θ may be equal to one hundredthirty-five degrees (135°). In this regard, the angle θ may besubstantially equal (+/−5 degrees) to the angle α. As will be explainedin more detail below, the configuration of the upper and lower portions38, 40 of the left lateral edge 36, including the angle (3, cancooperate with the configuration of the left and right medial edges 24,26 of the right and left front panels 18, 20, including the angles α1and α2, to allow the user to more easily put on and take off the articleof clothing 10, while also providing for improved comfort and appearancefor the user.

The fly panel 22 may include a third type of material that is the sameor different than the first and/or second materials of the right andleft front panels 18, 20, respectively. The third material may have athird modulus of elasticity that is the same or greater than the firstmodulus of elasticity and/or the second modulus of elasticity. As willbe explained in more detail below, the first, second, and third moduliof elasticity, including the relationship (e.g., ratio) therebetween,can allow the user to move easily put on and take of the article ofclothing 10, while also providing for improved comfort and appearancefor the user.

In comparing the moduli of elasticity of the right front panel 18, theleft front panel 20, and the fly panel 22, the moduli of elasticity maybe measured in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinalaxis of the fly panel 22 and along a line traversing the right frontpanel 18, the fly panel 22, and the left front panel 20 (i.e., in adirection of stretch when the article of clothing 10 is put on or takenoff by a user). The materials of the various panels 18, 20, 22 may bepositioned to provide maximum stretch in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fly panel 22 to allow thearticle of clothing 10 to be easily put on and taken off by a user.Namely, the panels 18, 20, 22 may be positioned relative to one anothersuch that the testing orientation of the materials of the panels 18, 20,22 are aligned (i.e., a testing orientation as used in, for example,ASTM D4964 and/or ASTM D6614).

In an assembled configuration, (i) the left medial edge 24 of the rightfront panel 18 may be coupled to one or both of the right lateral edge34 of the fly panel 22 and the right medial edge 26 of the left frontpanel 20 and (ii) the right medial edge 26 of the left front panel 20may be coupled to one or both of the left medial edge 24 of the rightfront panel 18 and the left lateral edge 36 of the fly panel 22, suchthat the right front panel 18, the left front panel 20, and the flypanel 22 cooperate to define a collinear upper edge 42. In particular,in some implementations, (i) an upper portion of the left medial edge 24of the right front panel 18 may be coupled to the right lateral edge 34of the fly panel 22, (ii) the lower portion 32 of the left front panel20 may be coupled to a lower portion of the left medial edge 24 of theright front panel 18, (iii) the upper portion 28 of the left front panel20 may be coupled to the upper portion 38 of the fly panel 22, and (iv)the intermediate portion 30 of the left front panel 20 may be coupled tothe lower portion 40 of the fly panel 22. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and3, in some configurations, the left medial edge 24 may be coupled to theright lateral edge 34, and the right medial edge 26 may be coupled tothe left lateral edge 36, along corresponding seams 44. For example, theleft medial edge 24 may be coupled to the right lateral edge 34, and theright medial edge 26 may be coupled to the left lateral edge 36, by oneor more stitches 46 along the seams 44, such that the fly panel 22 isformed without any folds or seams between the right lateral edge 34 andthe left lateral edge 36. It will be appreciated, however, that the leftand right medial edges 24, 26 and the left and right lateral edges 36,34 may be coupled to one another along the corresponding seams 44 usingvarious other fastening techniques, such as an adhesive or an ultrasonicweld, for example.

Providing the fly panel 22 as a different material than one or more ofthe panels 18, 20, may provide the area of the article of clothing 10 atthe fly panel 22 with the ability to stretch more than other areas ofthe article of clothing (i.e., at body portions of the panels 18, 20).For example, if the fly panel 22 includes a higher modulus of elasticitythan the panels 18, 20, the fly panel 22 allows the article of clothing10 to stretch more at the area of the fly panel 22 than if the panels18, 20 were directly coupled to one another. Further, providing thepanels 18, 20 as different components and joining these components 18,20 with the fly panel 22 allows the panels 18, 20 to independently moverelative to one another.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the waistband 14 may include a major bandor panel 50, a minor band or panel 52, a right securement tab 54, a leftsecurement tab 56, and a securing mechanism 58. The major band 50 mayextend from a proximal end 60 to a distal end 62 and, as such, maypartially surround a waistband opening defined by the waistband 14. Withreference to FIG. 2, the proximal end 60 and the distal end 62 maydefine an angle θ1 therebetween such that the ends 60, 62 flare out in adirection away from the panels 18, 20 toward the waistband opening. Theangle θ1 may be between zero degrees (0°) and ninety degrees (90°). Insome configurations, the angle θ1 may be equal to sixty degrees (60°).The major band 50 may include a fourth type of material. In someimplementations, the fourth material may be different than the first,second, and/or third types of materials of the right front panel 18, theleft front panel 20, and the fly panel 22, respectively. In this regard,the major band 50 may be at least partially formed from a materialhaving a fourth modulus of elasticity.

The fourth modulus of elasticity may be the same or different than thefirst modulus of elasticity, the second modulus of elasticity, and thethird modulus of elasticity. For example, the fourth modulus ofelasticity may be the same or greater than the first modulus ofelasticity and the second modulus of elasticity and less than the thirdmodulus of elasticity. The fourth modulus of elasticity may be measuredin a direction along a longitudinal axis of the major band 50 such thatthe fourth modulus is measured in a direction along a circumference ofthe waistband 14. The major band 50 may be positioned such that thetesting orientation of the material of the major band 50 is aligned withthe length of the waistband 14 (i.e., a testing orientation as used in,for example, ASTM D4964 and/or ASTM D6614).

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the minor band 52 may extend from aproximal end 64 to a distal end 66 and may cooperate with the major band50 to define the waistband opening. As such, the major band 50 and minorband 52 individually only partially surround the waistband opening butcooperate to surround the waistband opening.

With reference to FIG. 4, the proximal end 64 and the distal end 66 maydefine an angle θ2 therebetween such that the ends 64, 66 taper down ina direction from the waistband opening toward the panels 18, 20. Theangle θ2 may be between zero degrees (0°) and ninety degrees (90°). Insome configurations, the angle θ2 may be equal to sixty degrees (60°).In this regard, the angle θ2 may be substantially equal to the angle θ1such that the angles θ1, θ2 are supplementary.

The minor band 52 may include a fifth type of material. In someimplementations, the fifth material may be different than the first,second, third, and/or fourth types of materials of the right front panel18, the left front panel 20, the fly panel 22, and the major band 50,respectively. In this regard, the minor band 52 may be at leastpartially formed from a material having a fifth modulus of elasticity.The fifth modulus of elasticity may be greater than the fourth modulusof elasticity such that the minor band 52 provides the waistband 14 withthe capability to stretch more proximate to the fly panel 22.

Based on the foregoing, the article of clothing 10 may include awaistband 14 having a minor band 52 including a fifth modulus ofelasticity that is greater than the first modulus of elasticity, thesecond modulus of elasticity, and the fourth modulus of elasticity andis equal to or greater than the third modulus of elasticity. In thisconfiguration, the first modulus of elasticity and the second modulus ofelasticity may be less than or equal to the third modulus of elasticityand greater than the fourth modulus of elasticity with the fifth modulusof elasticity being greater than or equal to the third modulus ofelasticity.

As with the fourth modulus of elasticity, the fifth modulus ofelasticity may be measured in a direction along a longitudinal axis ofthe minor band 52 such that the fifth modulus is measured in a directionalong a circumference of the waistband 14. The minor band 52 may bepositioned such that the testing orientation of the material of theminor band 52 is aligned with the length of the waistband 14 (i.e., atesting orientation as used in, for example, ASTM D4964 and/or ASTMD6614).

Further, the shape of the minor band 52—at the ends 64, 66—allows thewaistband 14 to stretch more proximate to an entrance to the waistbandopening than proximate to a location proximate to the fly panel 22, asmore of the material of the minor band 52 surrounds the waistbandopening at the entrance to the waistband opening than at the fly panel22 due to the tapered nature of the ends 64, 66. Such a constructionfacilitates stretching of the waistband 14 when the article of clothingis put on and taken off.

The material of the minor band 52 may include apertures 53 formedtherethrough. The apertures 53 permit water to flow through the minorband 52 during use and, further, reduce the overall weight of thematerial. The apertures 53 additionally provide the minor band 52 withincreased elasticity by locally weakening the material of the minor band52 at the apertures 53.

While the fly panel 22, the major band 50, and the minor band 52 aredescried and shown as being separate from one another, these elements22, 50, 52 may be formed integrally of the same material. For example,the fly panel 22 could be integrally formed with the minor band 52 withthe major band 50 being attached to the minor band 52 in the manner setforth above. Alternatively, the fly panel 22 could be integrally withformed with the minor band 52 and the major band 50. Regardless ofwhether the fly panel 22 is integrally formed with only the minor band52 or with both the minor band 52 and the major band 50, therelationship between the moduli of the various elements 22, 50, 52 setforth above may be achieved by providing the elements 22, 50, 52 withzones having different material properties. For example, each zone maybe provided with a particular weave, knit, and/or an additional layer ofthe same or different material to achieve a desired modulus ofelasticity. The zones may be defined by the shape of the elements 22,50, 52, as shown in the figures.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the right securement tab 54 may extend from aproximal end 70 to a distal end 72, and the left securement tab 56 mayextend from a proximal end 74 to a distal end 76. The right and/or leftsecurement tabs 54, 56 may include a sixth type of material. In someimplementations, the sixth material may be the same or different thanthe first, second, third, fourth, and/or fifth types of materials of theright front panel 18, the left front panel 20, the fly panel 22, themajor band 50, and minor band 52, respectively. Further, the sixthmaterial may include a reinforcement that strengthens the securementtabs 54, 56. For example, one or both of the tabs 54, 56 may include apolymer reinforcing layer disposed on or within the tabs 54, 56. In thisregard, the right and/or left securement tabs 54, 56 may be at leastpartially formed from a material having a sixth modulus of elasticitythat is less than or equal to the fourth modulus of elasticity.

The securing mechanism 58 may include one or more of a variety ofmechanisms to fix the position of the distal end 72 of the rightsecurement tab 54 relative to the position of the distal end 76 of theleft securement tab 56. For example, in some implementations, thesecuring mechanism 58 may include one or more drawstrings 80 coupled toone or more of the major band 50 (e.g., the proximal and/or distal end60, 62), the right securement tab 54 (e.g., the distal end 72), and theleft securement tab 56 (e.g., the distal end 76). In this regard, thedrawstring(s) 80 may extend through one or more eyelets 82 on the rightand/or left securement tabs 54, 56 to allow a user to draw the distalend 72 of the right securement tab 54 towards the distal end 76 of theleft securement tab 56 to constrict the waistband 14 around a person'swaist. As shown in FIG. 1, the securing mechanism 58 may at leastpartially extend over the minor panel 52.

In the assembled configuration, the waistband 14 may be coupled to theupper edge 42 defined by the right front panel 18, the left front panel20, and/or the fly panel 22. In particular, in some implementations, alower edge 86 of the major band 50 and a lower edge 88 of the minor band52 may be coupled to the upper edge 42. In addition, (i) the proximalend 60 of the major band 50 may be coupled to the distal end 66 of theminor band 52, (ii) the distal end 62 of the major band 50 may becoupled to the proximal end 64 of the minor band 52, (iii) the proximalend 70 of the right securement tab 54 may be coupled to the proximal end60 of the major band 50 and/or the distal end 66 of the minor band 52,and (iv) the proximal end 74 of the left securement tab 56 may becoupled to the distal end 62 of the major band 50 and/or the proximalend 64 of the minor band 52. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, in someconfigurations, the major band 50, the minor band 52, the rightsecurement tab 54, and the left securement tab 56 may be coupled to oneanother, and/or to the upper edge 42, along corresponding seams 90 byone or more stitches 92. It will be appreciated, however, that the majorband 50, the minor band 52, the right securement tab 54, and the leftsecurement tab 56 may be coupled to one another, and/or to the upperedge 42 along the corresponding seams 90 using various other fasteningtechniques, such as an adhesive or an ultrasonic weld, for example.Alternatively, the major band 50, the minor band 52, the rightsecurement tab 54, and the left securement tab 56 may be constructedintegrally with the panels 18, 20, and/or 22 and still provide thevarious moduli described above. For example, each of the foregoingelements 18, 20, 22, 50, 52, 54, 56 may achieve a desired modulus ofelasticity even though some or all of the elements 18, 20, 22, 50, 52,54, 56 are constructed integrally by providing the material of theintegrally constructed elements with zones having different moduli. Asset forth above the moduli of each zone may be achieved by providing theindividual zones with a different weave, a different knit, and/or anadditional layer of the same or different material.

The configuration of the article of clothing 10 described herein,including, for example, the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, andsixth materials, the angles α1, α2, β, θ1, and θ2, and the configurationand cooperation of the right front panel 18, the left front panel 20,the fly panel 22, the major band 50, the minor band 52, the rightsecurement tab 54, the left securement tab 56, and the securingmechanism 58 can allow the user to more easily and effectively put onand take off the article of clothing 10, while also providing forimproved comfort and appearance for the user while wearing the articleof clothing 10.

The following Clauses provide an exemplary configuration for an articleof clothing described above.

Clause 1: An article of clothing comprising a body including a firstpanel and a second panel cooperating to define a pair of leg openingsoperable to receive respective legs of a person during use, at least oneof the first panel and the second panel formed from a first materialhaving a first modulus of elasticity and a waistband coupled to thefirst panel and the second panel and including a waist opening operableto be positioned at a waist of a person during use, the waistbandincluding a first portion partially surrounding a first length of thewaist opening and formed of a second material having a second modulus ofelasticity and a second portion partially surrounding a second length ofthe waist opening and formed of a third material having a third modulusof elasticity greater than the second modulus of elasticity.

Clause 2: The article of clothing of Clause 1, wherein the first portionand the second portion cooperate to define the waist opening.

Clause 3: The article of clothing of Clause 1, wherein the first portionincludes a first distal end and a second distal end and the secondportion includes a third distal end and a fourth distal end, the firstdistal end being attached to the third distal end and the second distalend being attached to the fourth distal end to define the waist opening.

Clause 4: The article of clothing of Clause 3, wherein the third distalend and the fourth distal end are formed at a first angle relative to alongitudinal axis of the second portion.

Clause 5: The article of clothing of Clause 4, wherein the first distalend and the second distal end are formed at a second angle relative to alongitudinal axis of the first portion, the second angle beingsupplementary to the first angle.

Clause 6: The article of clothing of Clause 3, wherein the first distalend and the second distal end flare out in a direction from the firstpanel and the second panel toward the waist opening.

Clause 7: The article of clothing of Clause 6, wherein the third distalend and the fourth distal end taper down in a direction from the waistopening toward the first panel and the second panel.

Clause 8: The article of clothing of Clause 1, further comprising a flypanel coupled to the first panel and formed at least in part of a fourthmaterial having a fourth modulus of elasticity different than the firstmodulus of elasticity.

Clause 9: The article of clothing of Clause 8, wherein the fourthmodulus of elasticity is greater than the first modulus of elasticity.

Clause 10: The article of clothing of Clause 9, wherein the first panelincludes a first panel portion and a second panel portion, the fly panelextending between and connecting the first panel portion and the secondpanel portion.

Clause 11: The article of clothing of Clause 8, wherein the first panelincludes a first panel portion and a second panel portion, the fly panelextending between and connecting the first panel portion and the secondpanel portion.

Clause 12: The article of clothing of Clause 1, further comprising asecurement mechanism extending at least partially over the secondportion of the waistband, the securement operable to selectivelyconstrict the waistband.

Clause 13: An article of clothing comprising a body including a firstpanel and a second panel cooperating to define a pair of leg openingsoperable to receive respective legs of a person during use, at least oneof the first panel and the second panel formed from a first materialhaving a first modulus of elasticity and a waistband coupled to thefirst panel and the second panel and including a waist opening operableto be positioned at a waist of a person during use and including a firstportion partially surrounding a first length of the waist opening and asecond portion partially surrounding a second length of the waistopening, the first portion including a first distal end and a seconddistal end and the second portion including a third distal end and afourth distal end that are respectively attached to the first distal endand the second distal end and taper down in a direction from the waistopening toward the first panel and the second panel.

Clause 14: The article of clothing of Clause 13, wherein the firstdistal end and the second distal end flare out in a direction away fromthe first panel and the second panel toward the waist opening.

Clause 15: The article of clothing of Clause 13, wherein the firstdistal end is formed at a supplementary angle relative to the thirddistal end and the second distal end is formed at a supplementary anglerelative to the fourth distal end.

Clause 16: The article of clothing of Clause 13, wherein the firstportion is formed of a second material having a second modulus ofelasticity and the second portion is formed of a third material having athird modulus of elasticity, the third modulus of elasticity beinggreater than the second modulus of elasticity.

Clause 17: The article of clothing of Clause 13, wherein the firstportion and the second portion cooperate to define the waist opening.

Clause 18: The article of clothing of Clause 13, wherein the thirddistal end and the fourth distal end are formed at a first anglerelative to a longitudinal axis of the second portion.

Clause 19: The article of clothing of Clause 18, wherein the firstdistal end and the second distal end are formed at a second anglerelative to a longitudinal axis of the first portion, the second anglebeing supplementary to the first angle.

Clause 20: The article of clothing of Clause 13, further comprising afly panel coupled to the first panel and formed at least in part of afourth material having a fourth modulus of elasticity different than thefirst modulus of elasticity.

Clause 21: The article of clothing of Clause 20, wherein the fourthmodulus of elasticity is greater than the first modulus of elasticity.

Clause 22: The article of clothing of Clause 21, wherein the first panelincludes a first panel portion and a second panel portion, the fly panelextending between and connecting the first panel portion and the secondpanel portion.

Clause 23: The article of clothing of Clause 20, wherein the first panelincludes a first panel portion and a second panel portion, the fly panelextending between and connecting the first panel portion and the secondpanel portion.

Clause 24: The article of clothing of Clause 13, further comprising asecurement mechanism extending at least partially over the secondportion of the waistband, the securement operable to selectivelyconstrict the waistband.

Clause 25: A method of manufacturing an article of clothing, the methodcomprising providing a body including a first panel and a second panelthat cooperate to define a pair of leg openings that are operable toreceive respective legs of a person during use. Forming at least one ofthe first panel and the second panel from a first material having afirst modulus of elasticity and coupling a waistband to the first paneland the second panel including providing the waistband with a waistopening operable to be positioned at a waist of a person during use.Forming the waistband to include a first portion partially surrounding afirst length of the waist opening and a second portion partiallysurrounding a second length of the waist opening and forming the firstportion of a second material having a second modulus of elasticity andforming the second portion of a third material having a third modulus ofelasticity greater than the second modulus of elasticity.

Clause 26: The method of Clause 25, wherein forming the waistbandincludes defining the waist opening by the first portion and the secondportion.

Clause 27: The method of Clause 25, wherein forming the waistbandincludes providing the first portion with a first distal end and asecond distal end and the second portion with a third distal end and afourth distal end, the first distal end being attached to the thirddistal end and the second distal end being attached to the fourth distalend to define the waist opening.

Clause 28: The method of Clause 27, further comprising forming the thirddistal end and the fourth distal end are formed at a first anglerelative to a longitudinal axis of the second portion.

Clause 29: The method of Clause 28, further comprising forming the firstdistal end and the second distal end at a second angle relative to alongitudinal axis of the first portion, the second angle beingsupplementary to the first angle.

Clause 30: The method of Clause 27, further comprising flaring out thefirst distal end and the second distal end in a direction from the firstpanel and the second panel toward the waist opening.

Clause 31: The method of Clause 30, further comprising tapering down thethird distal end and the second distal end in a direction from the waistopening toward the first panel and the second panel.

Clause 32: The method of Clause 25, further comprising coupling a flypanel to the first panel, the fly panel being formed at least in part ofa fourth material having a fourth modulus of elasticity different thanthe first modulus of elasticity.

Clause 33: The method of Clause 32, further comprising providing thefourth modulus of elasticity with a greater elasticity than the firstmodulus of elasticity.

Clause 34: The method of Clause 33, further comprising providing thefirst panel with a first panel portion and a second panel portion, thefly panel extending between and connecting the first panel portion andthe second panel portion.

Clause 35: The method of Clause 32, further comprising providing thefirst panel with a first panel portion and a second panel portion, thefly panel extending between and connecting the first panel portion andthe second panel portion.

Clause 36: The method of Clause 25, further comprising providing asecurement mechanism extending at least partially over the secondportion of the waistband, the securement operable to selectivelyconstrict the waistband.

The foregoing description has been provided for purposes of illustrationand description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit thedisclosure. Individual elements or features of a particularconfiguration are generally not limited to that particularconfiguration, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can beused in a selected configuration, even if not specifically shown ordescribed. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations arenot to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of thedisclosure.

1. An article of clothing comprising: a body including a first panel anda second panel cooperating to define a pair of leg openings operable toreceive respective legs of a person during use, at least one of thefirst panel and the second panel formed from a first material having afirst modulus of elasticity; and a waistband coupled to the first paneland the second panel and including a waist opening operable to bepositioned at a waist of a person during use, the waistband including afirst portion partially surrounding a first length of the waist openingand formed of a second material having a second modulus of elasticityand a second portion partially surrounding a second length of the waistopening and formed of a third material having a third modulus ofelasticity greater than the second modulus of elasticity.
 2. The articleof clothing of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portioncooperate to define the waist opening.
 3. The article of clothing ofclaim 1, wherein the first portion includes a first distal end and asecond distal end and the second portion includes a third distal end anda fourth distal end, the first distal end being attached to the thirddistal end and the second distal end being attached to the fourth distalend to define the waist opening.
 4. The article of clothing of claim 3,wherein the third distal end and the fourth distal end are formed at afirst angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the second portion. 5.The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the first distal end and thesecond distal end are formed at a second angle relative to alongitudinal axis of the first portion, the second angle beingsupplementary to the first angle.
 6. The article of clothing of claim 3,wherein the first distal end and the second distal end flare out in adirection from the first panel and the second panel toward the waistopening.
 7. The article of clothing of claim 6, wherein the third distalend and the fourth distal end taper down in a direction from the waistopening toward the first panel and the second panel.
 8. The article ofclothing of claim 1, further comprising a fly panel coupled to the firstpanel and formed at least in part of a fourth material having a fourthmodulus of elasticity different than the first modulus of elasticity. 9.The article of clothing of claim 8, wherein the fourth modulus ofelasticity is greater than the first modulus of elasticity.
 10. Thearticle of clothing of claim 9, wherein the first panel includes a firstpanel portion and a second panel portion, the fly panel extendingbetween and connecting the first panel portion and the second panelportion. 11-12. (canceled)
 13. An article of clothing comprising: a bodyincluding a first panel and a second panel cooperating to define a pairof leg openings operable to receive respective legs of a person duringuse, at least one of the first panel and the second panel formed from afirst material having a first modulus of elasticity; and a waistbandcoupled to the first panel and the second panel and including a waistopening operable to be positioned at a waist of a person during use andincluding a first portion partially surrounding a first length of thewaist opening and a second portion partially surrounding a second lengthof the waist opening, the first portion including a first distal end anda second distal end and the second portion including a third distal endand a fourth distal end that are respectively attached to the firstdistal end and the second distal end and taper down in a direction fromthe waist opening toward the first panel and the second panel.
 14. Thearticle of clothing of claim 13, wherein the first distal end and thesecond distal end flare out in a direction away from the first panel andthe second panel toward the waist opening.
 15. The article of clothingof claim 13, wherein the first distal end is formed at a supplementaryangle relative to the third distal end and the second distal end isformed at a supplementary angle relative to the fourth distal end. 16.The article of clothing of claim 13, wherein the first portion is formedof a second material having a second modulus of elasticity and thesecond portion is formed of a third material having a third modulus ofelasticity, the third modulus of elasticity being greater than thesecond modulus of elasticity.
 17. The article of clothing of claim 13,wherein the first portion and the second portion cooperate to define thewaist opening.
 18. The article of clothing of claim 13, wherein thethird distal end and the fourth distal end are formed at a first anglerelative to a longitudinal axis of the second portion.
 19. The articleof clothing of claim 18, wherein the first distal end and the seconddistal end are formed at a second angle relative to a longitudinal axisof the first portion, the second angle being supplementary to the firstangle.
 20. The article of clothing of claim 13, further comprising a flypanel coupled to the first panel and formed at least in part of a fourthmaterial having a fourth modulus of elasticity different than the firstmodulus of elasticity.
 21. The article of clothing of claim 20, whereinthe fourth modulus of elasticity is greater than the first modulus ofelasticity.
 22. The article of clothing of claim 21, wherein the firstpanel includes a first panel portion and a second panel portion, the flypanel extending between and connecting the first panel portion and thesecond panel portion. 23-36. (canceled)